MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat

MechWarrior
MechWarrior	1989
MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat	1995
MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries	1996
MechWarrior 3	1999
MechWarrior 4: Vengeance	2000
MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries	2002
MechWarrior: Living Legends (unofficial game)	2009
MechWarrior Online	2012
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries	2018

Key points

MechVM fixes compatibility issues with modern systems.

Windows versions do not work on Windows 8 and later.^[1]

General information

BattleTech Wiki - A massive wiki for everything BattleTech related

Availability[edit]

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		Mac OS version is a separate release. DOS and Windows versions are packed together.

This game is not available digitally.

Version differences[edit]

MechWarrior 2: The Titanium Trilogy is a complete edition including both expansions and MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries.

The DOS version uses software rendering. This version can be played in DOSBox.

The Windows 95, Pentium, Diamond Monster 3D, 3Dfx, Battlepack and Titanium versions can be played using MechVM.

The ATI Rage, Matrox Mystique, PowerVR, S3 ViRGE and STB Velocity versions are not usable on modern systems.

There are many visual differences between the hardware-accelerated versions; see the 3D Acceleration Comparison for details.

Downloadable content (DLC) and expansions

A standalone follow-up, MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries, is also available.

Name	Notes
MechWarrior 2: Ghost Bear's Legacy	Sold separately or bundled with later releases.
NetMech

Essential improvements[edit]

MechVM[edit]

Windows versions do not work on Windows 8 and later; choose the DOS version when prompted (not included with all Windows versions).^[1]

Use MechVM^[2]

Download MechVM and extract it.
Run mechvm.exe and install the game through it.
Go to the directx folder on the game disc.
If dplay.dll exists copy it to the MechWarrior 2 installation folder.
Set mech2.exe to run in Windows 95 compatibility mode.
For versions with 3dfx renderers (3dfx, Diamond Monster 3D, Titanium) use nGlide.

Patches[edit]

Install the latest Patch to fix various issues. Battlepack and Titanium versions are already patched.

Skip intro videos[edit]

Use replacement MINTRO.SMK

Apply the MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat intro skip.

Game data[edit]

Configuration file(s) location[edit]

System	Location
DOS
Windows	<path-to-game>
Mac OS

Save game data location[edit]

System	Location
DOS
Windows
Mac OS

Video settings[edit]

In-game general settings.

In-game movie playback settings.

Graphics option	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution		See the WSGF entry.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed	By default.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Anisotropic filtering (AF)	Install nGlide and force in the graphics card control panel.
Anti-aliasing (AA)	Install nGlide and force in the graphics card control panel.
Vertical sync (Vsync)	Install nGlide and force in the graphics card control panel.
60 FPS
120+ FPS

Widescreen resolution[edit]

The 3dfx edition can be played in widescreen (see the WSGF entry); other versions with 3dfx renderers can be run at higher resolutions using nGlide (choice of stretched or pillarboxed 4:3).

Use nGlide^{[citation needed]}

Install nGlide.
Run the nGlide configurator from the Start screen/Start menu.
Set your resolution.
Change aspect ratio to "4:3" for the correct perspective or "fit to screen" for a stretched output.
Select the 3dfx renderer in-game.

Input settings[edit]

In-game key map settings.

Keyboard and mouse	Native	Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Additional information
Button prompts
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback

Audio settings[edit]

Audio options	Native	Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	CC	Notes
English

Network[edit]

Multiplayer requires the Netmech expansion (sold separately or bundled with later releases).

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play		8
Online play		8	Official servers have been shut down.

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Issues unresolved[edit]

Windows version crashes on mission launch on Windows 8 or later[edit]

Windows versions crash on Windows 8 and later; use the DOS version instead.^[1]

Issues fixed[edit]

No music[edit]

The disc must be inserted in CD-ROM 0; see this page for details.

Joystick not detected in Ghost Bear's Legacy[edit]

Copy missing giddi/giddiwin files^[3]

Open the giddi folder on the CD.
Copy the contents to giddi in the installation folder.
Open the giddiwin folder on the CD.
Copy the contents to giddiwin in the installation folder.

Other information[edit]

API[edit]

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	2.0	Availability varies (see Version differences).
Glide	2.11	Availability varies (see Version differences).
Software renderer		Availability varies (see Version differences).
64-bit executable

Middleware[edit]

	Middleware	Notes
Cutscenes	Smacker Video

System requirements[edit]

DOS
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	5.0
Processor (CPU)	Intel 486 66 MHz
System memory (RAM)	8 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	45 MB
Video card (GPU)	SVGA 256 Color

Windows
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	95
Processor (CPU)	Intel Pentium 100 MHz
System memory (RAM)	16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	195 MB
Video card (GPU)	Direct3D or 3dfx compatible

References

[Windows_8-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Forum | Zeus Software • View topic - Mechwarrior 2: 31st Century Combat compatibility list error

[2] Forum | Zeus Software • View topic - Mechwarrior 2: 31st Century Combat compatibility list error

[3] MechWarrior 2: Resource Forum • View topic - No joystick with Ghost Bear - SOLVED!!

[1]

[2]

[3]

Developers

	Activision
Release dates
DOS	July 24, 1995
Windows	1995
Mac OS	July 1, 1996